Jewish Agency aid helps family after rocket hit

SDEROT, ISRAEL - Yaron said the ground shook in an immense blast when the rocket's exploded.

The bombardment from the Gaza Strip took place during the IDF's Pillar of Defense air operation in October, 2012, aimed to quell previous months of indiscriminate rocket fire at civilians, cities, towns and villages.

“But we always hear explosions,” Yaron said of the earth-rattling booms, as salvos hailed down over Israel's southlands and as far north as greater Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Terror from the skies hits home

More than 10,000 missiles fired by Gaza terrorists have slammed into Sderot and surrounding areas for more than a decade. But luckily, none had hit the Shadadi's home - yet.

However, when the family ran outside to see where this particular rocket crashed to earth, they were shocked to see their neighbors pointing back at their own house.

The rocket left a meter-wide hole in their roof. While it missed a crucial supporting beam by centimeters, it demolished their eldest daughter's bedroom and all her belongings. Luckily, the 22 year-old was away at college in Ashkelon at the time of the attack.

Ofer Baram, representative of The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror, soon arrived at the Shadadi's to ensure that financial aid would reach the family within 48 hours.

The money will go towards treating their traumatized daughter, and replacing her belongings, while later funds will go towards repairing the structural damage to their home.

“Thank you, thank you,” the still visibly shaken daughter said to Baram, as he arranged the administration of the funds.

Tami volunteers at a local clinic, where she herself assists area individuals and families cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and related ailments caused by the intermittent rocket attacks.

In the days following the strike, and despite her own family's trauma, Tami went back to volunteering, still helping others cope.

Helping other Israeli trauma-stricken families

The Jewish Agency’s Fund for the Victims of Terror is supported by donations from the Jewish Federations of North America, as well as by foundations and donors across the globe.

The fund provides material assistance to terror victims, with average emergency grants at $1000 USD per person, and are intended to help residents with their initial recovery.

Yaron said the ground shook in an immense blast when the impacting rocket's payload detonated.

The bombardment by Palestinian terrorists took place during the IDF's intensive Pillar of Defense air operation in October, 2012 against Gaza rocket launching crews. The foray's some 1,500 sorties were themselves meant to quell previous months of indiscriminate rocket fire at civilians, cities, towns and villages.

“But we always hear explosions,” Yaron said of the earth-rattling booms, as salvos of steel rain from Gaza hailed down over Israel's southlands and as far north as greater Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Terror from the skies hits home

More than 10,000 missiles fired by Gaza terrorists have slammed into Sderot and surrounding areas for more than a decade, leaving death and destruction in their wake. But luckily, none had hit the Shadadi's home - yet.

However, when the family ran outside to see where this particular rocket crashed to earth, they were shocked to see their neighbors pointing back at their own house.

The rocket left a meter-wide hole in their roof. While it missed a crucial supporting beam by centimeters, it demolished their eldest daughter's bedroom and all her belongings. Luckily, the 22 year-old was away at college in Ashkelon at the time of the attack.

Ofer Baram, representative of The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror, soon arrived at the Shadadi's to ensure that financial aid would reach the family within 48 hours.

The money will go towards treating their traumatized daughter, and replacing her belongings, while later funds will go towards repairing the structural damage to their home.

“Thank you, thank you,” the still visibly shaken daughter said to Baram, as he arranged the administration of the funds.

Tami volunteers at a local clinic, where she herself assists area individuals and families cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and related ailments caused by the intermittent rocket attacks.

In the days following the strike, and despite her own family's trauma, Tami went back to volunteering, still helping others cope.

Helping other Israeli trauma-stricken familes

The Jewish Agency’s Fund for the Victims of Terror is supported by donations from the Jewish Federations of North America, a well as by foundations and donors across the globe.

The fund provides material assistance to terror victims, with average emergency grants at $1000 USD per person, and are intended to help residents with their initial recovery.

Margot Saffer is an olah chadasha writing from Jerusalem, Margot holds degrees in English, Media, and Psychology (cum laude), and a MPhil in Life-Writing. Her poetry, prose, journalism, and academic work have been published in three languages, on four continents. Her interests are social activism, giving voice to minority populations, and personal profiles.